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Is Red Bull shooting itself in the foot? Fuel pump problem was already known
- GPblog.com
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both retired with problems believed to be related to the fuel pump. It would not be the first time in this still early Formula 1 season that teams have problems with the fuel pump. Ted Kravitz reports this in Sky Sports' after-race show .
The fuel pump in the premier class of motor racing is a standardized component."It's a common fuel pump, designed and supplied by an Italian company, don't read anything into that. It's a common part amongst all the teams" Kravitz explained in the broadcast.
Problems with fuel pump known
The pit reporter continued, "They [the Supplier] had some problem with it, they saw the problems coming so they allowed the teams to have a chance to inspect the fuel pump. Some teams needed to replace it, McLaren did because they could see that at the bottom of the tank, it wasn't collecting all fuel available. And it was having problems I've been told with the E10 fuel." There is a different fuel being driven this year compared to last season.
Kravitz suspects that unlike a McLaren, Red Bull did not take advantage of the opportunity to change the part. "I don't think Red Bull replaced their fuel pump. Perhaps through no fault of Red Bulls own, they've fallen foul of that"